Patient case · in the doctor's own words
A Korean Glow Up in Episodes: Planning Seoul Skin Treatments Day by Day, Inspired by Suu's Series
Suu Lae Yee (@suulysly) posts her Seoul glow-up as episodes. Her caption names no treatments, so her doctor explains the idea behind it: how to order skin treatments across a trip so each one has time to settle before the next, and before the flight home.
Explained by
Dr. Hyunji Kim
Director · Lead Physician · Lifting, Laser & Anti-aging
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I'm Dr. Hyunji Kim, director of Delphic Clinic near Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam. I trained at Korea University Medical Center, and I consult and treat our international patients myself. “I'm here for six days, what should I do and in what order?” is one of the most common messages I get before a visitor lands. Suu's TikTok calls her visit Episode 2 of a glow up in Seoul, and that framing is closer to good planning than most people realise: a Korean glow up works better as a series than as one long session. Her caption doesn't name treatments, so I won't say what she had. Here I explain how I sequence skin treatments over a trip by downtime, a sample five-day order, what it can cost, what I'd leave out of a short stay, and who should keep it simple.
Medically reviewed · Dr. Hyunji Kim ·
In her own words
Glow up in Seoul Episode 2 🫶🏻
Can you do a Korean glow up in one trip?
Yes, if you plan it as a series. A Korean glow up on a trip is less about one big session and more about putting a few treatments in the right order, so each has time to settle.
Suu's 'Episode 2' caption fits that idea, though her post doesn't say what each episode involved. What follows is how I sequence a glow-up for someone with several days in Seoul.
Why I sequence by downtime, not by excitement
- Treatments that leave visible marks, such as booster bumps, go first.
- Toning and peels with same-day return go in the middle.
- Hydration or soothing care goes last, so you fly home calm rather than raw.
- The final day before the flight stays free of anything new.
A sample five-day glow-up order
- 1
Day 1: consultation
A free 1:1 consultation and, if your skin is ready, a booster such as Rejuran; its bumps usually settle in 1–3 days.
- 2
Days 2–3: let it settle
Sightseeing, shopping, gentle cleansing and sunscreen. No saunas.
- 3
Day 3 or 4: tone and clarity
PicoSure toning with a mask, same-day return, or Aqua Peel if pores feel congested.
- 4
Day 4 or 5: hydration finish
A PHA Water Tox package or hydration care for a dewy finish before you fly.
This is only an example. On a short stay I drop items rather than squeeze them, and on a longer stay I may space things further apart.
For the bump days in detail, see whether Korean skin boosters fit a four-day trip, and for no-needle options, how many days each kind of facial needs before your flight.
What I leave out of a short glow-up trip
- An aqua glow injection on a 2–3 night stay; its recovery is about 3–7 days.
- Several injectables on the same face in one trip, unless the stay is long enough.
- Anything new within a day of the flight home.
- Strong treatments on skin that's sunburned or irritated from travel.
If your glow-up goal is the on-camera 'idol glow', I broke that look into parts in Silvana's case, which pairs well with this planning view.
What a glow-up series can cost
Suu's caption doesn't name treatments or prices, so these are example first-visit menu prices for items I often use in a series. Korean and international patients pay the same, with no foreigner surcharge.
- Rejuran Healer 2cc (First-visit trial)₩178,000≈ $130
- Pico Sure Toning + 1 Session of Mask (First-visit trial)₩40,000≈ $30
- Experience Package PHA Water Tox Full Package (First-visit trial)₩149,000≈ $110
Example menu prices, not what Suu paid. VAT excluded · the same price for Korean and international patients · regular prices: Rejuran Healer 2cc ₩350,000, PicoSure toning + mask ₩50,000, PHA Water Tox full package ₩200,000 · your own sequence is set at the free consultation.
Between episodes: habits that protect the glow
- Sunscreen every morning, reapplied if you're walking around all day.
- Lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser; skip scrubs during the trip.
- Go easy on alcohol and saunas on the days after injections.
- Keep the skincare you brought simple; a new strong active mid-trip can undo a calm treatment.
Who should keep their Korean glow-up simple
If you're in Seoul for two nights, or your skin is sensitive or currently irritated, one gentle treatment is often the wiser plan. A glow up is not worth a flare that follows you home.
- 1
Send your travel dates first
On WhatsApp, with a photo and your main wish; I plan backwards from your flight.
- 2
Interpreters on site
English and Chinese interpreters join you from consultation to aftercare.
- 3
Getting here
Near Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam; same-day treatment is possible.
Is this for you?
Who this combination genuinely suits
Signs it may be time
- You've saved several Korean treatments and don't know the order
- You want to look your freshest at the end of the trip, not the start
- Your skin gets dull and dry when you travel
- You'd rather spread treatments out than do everything at once
A good fit if
- You have four or more days in Seoul and want several skin treatments
- You'd like someone to order them around your flight
- Your goal is overall glow and tone, not one specific problem
- You're comfortable with a day or two of visible booster bumps
Not the right first step if: you have only one or two nights, your skin is sunburned, inflamed or reacting to a new product, you have an important event the day after a booster, or you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
“Send me your arrival and departure dates before anything else. I build a glow-up backwards from your flight, and that one detail decides more than any treatment name.”
Questions patients ask me about this
How many days do I need for a glow up in Seoul?
Four or more days lets you place a booster early and gentler care later. With two nights, I usually suggest one no-downtime treatment.
Which skin treatments should I book early in a Korea trip?
The ones with visible downtime, such as Rejuran bumps that settle in about 1–3 days. Toning, peels and hydration care with same-day return come later.
Can I do several skin treatments in one day?
Sometimes, if they suit each other and your skin is calm. On a trip I often prefer to spread them over a few days so each can settle.
What should I avoid right before my flight home?
Anything new with visible downtime, such as injectable boosters. A gentle hydration or soothing treatment is usually the safer last step.
How much does a Korean glow-up plan cost?
It depends on the items. At Delphic Clinic, first-visit menu examples include PicoSure toning with a mask at ₩40,000, PHA Water Tox at ₩149,000 and Rejuran Healer 2cc at ₩178,000, VAT excluded.
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